Chauncey Darby

Chauncey Darby was probably named after one of the first Baptist To reside in America - Rev. Charles Chauncey, who arrived here in 1639. The account of the disturbance on account of immersion is related by two governors who were eye witnesses. Governor Winthrop of the Colony of Massachusetts, under date of 1639, says:

Our neighbors of Plymouth had procured from hence, this year, one Mr. Chancey, a great scholar, and a godly man, intending to call him to the office of a teacher; but before the fit time came, he discovered his judgment about baptism, that the children ought to be dipped and not sprinkled; and, he being an active man, and very vehement, there arose much trouble about it. The magistrates and the other elders there, and most of the people, withstood the receiving of that practice, not for itself so much, as for fear of worse consequences, as the annihilation of our baptism, &c. Whereupon the church there wrote to all the other churches, both here and in Connecticut, &c., for advice, and sent Mr. Chauncey’s arguments. The churches took them into consideration, and returned their several answers, wherein they showed their dissent from him, and clearly confuted all his arguments, discovering withal some great mistakes of his about the judgment and practice of antiquity (Winthrop, History of New England, I. pp. 390, 331).

From the Marriage & Death Notices/Tompkins County Vital Records, Area Newspaper Notices:

June 25, 1839 notes that Chauncey Darby, late of Hamilton Literary & Theological Institution, & Miss Mary Ann Short, Dau Hammond, married in Homer Village on the 11th of June, 1839.

Greene, N.Y. is about 40 miles N.E. of Cortland NY. Rev. Chauncey Darby & his wife Mary Ann Short are buried in Sylvan Lawn Cemetery in Greene,N.Y. He was born 02/14/1816. He died 03/09/1903. He was married to Mary Ann Short. She was born 06/29/1816. She died 10/10/1902.

He was pastor of the Central Baptist Church in Greene from 1839 to 1845. Chauncey and his brother, Lucius Tyler, share a beautiful headstone, erected by Rev. Chauncey Darby's son, Dr. Edwin Tyler Darby & Lucius Darby' son Dr. Franklin Darby, both well-known dentists in this area. (Edwin was head of the University of Pennsylvania Dental School for over 40 years in Lansdowne PA & Frank was Mark Twains' dentist, in Elmira NY, there is a lot of humerous & friendly correspondence between Mark Twain & Frank Darby in the Elmire library).

Lucius was born 05/16/1813. He died on 09/13/1897. His wife was Sarah Perkins--b 10/27/1819 d 08/07/1855.

Nancy & Don (Sept 2001)

BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES:

This volume contains BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES of Leading Citizens of CHENANGO COUNTY, NEW YORK

Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, NY 1898

Page 71:

Rev. Chauncey Darby, of the village of Greene, has been engaged in the blessed work of the master since 1839, preaching and ministering a considerable portion of this period to the spiritual needs of his flock in the Baptist church at Greene, this county, where he now lives in retirement. We take great pleasure in presenting the salient points of his life, adding to such an account whatever other facts of interest present themselves to us, which will enlist the attention and consideration of those who chance to read this volume.

Rev. Mr. Darby was born in the town of Homer, now Cortland, Cortland County, N.Y., February 14, 1816, and is a son of Joseph and Asenath (Tyler) Darby, both of whom were born in the State of Connecticut.

Eleazer Darby, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Connecticut; attaining his manhood, he moved to the State of New York and located in the town of Homer, where he spent his life, actively engaged in the tilling of the soil. He cleared the timber in the forest, cultivated the land thus improved, labored there and remained until the time of his death. Religiously, he was an able worker of the Baptist church.

Joseph Darby, the father of our subject, was one of the children born to this sturdy and courageous old gentleman and his wife. He was reared in the State of Connecticut, and received a liberal education for those times. After his marriage to Anna Grow, he moved to the town of Homer and became actively engaged in farming, which was his sole occupation throughout his life. His perseverance was remarkable. Amidst a deep forest he planned and developed a fine farm. In politics he was a Whig, and took a prominent part in local affairs, and was elected coroner of Cortland County, the duties of which office were faithfully discharged. Mr. Darby was an Anti-Mason man and was opposed to any secret organization.

He was twice united in marriage. To his first wife, Anna Grow, three children were reared, namely; Dilly, Lyman and Thomas. After the death of his first wife, he married Asenath Tyler, who was born in Connecticut, and they reared a large family of children, of whom six lived to maturity. They were as follows: Ann; Joseph; Lucius; Chauncey, the subject of the sketch; Asenath; and Edwin. The father of our subject was an active and consistent member of the Baptist church, and supported the church of that denomination in the village of Cortland. He passed to the world of rest about 1836, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Darby joined her husband about 1852, aged seventy-two years.

Rev. Chauncey Darby received his elementary training in the schools of Homer and at Homer Academy. He then pursued the theological course, and was graduated from the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution. In 1839 he was licensed to preach, and was installed as pastor of the Baptist church at Greene the same year. Later he was called to Binghamton to fill the vacancy in the First Baptist church and remained there five years. Mr. Darby was a very fluent and convincing speaker, and brought home to the hearts of his hearers the blessed truths to be found in the life of Christ, outlining their duty to God forcibly and distinctly. Not alone in the pulpit did his ability show forth in the best light, but also in bringing before each repentant sinner the plan of a personal salvation, free to all who would accept it. He was also interested in home and foreign missionary work, and went to great pains to keep himself and his people well informed as to the needs and the progress in the various fields. Our subject returned to the village of Greene, where the services were held in blacksmith shops and in a grocery store until the church was built, which was in 1843. Now they have a congregation of over 250 members. Mr. Darby has presided in pulpits at McGrawville, Cortland, and several other villages, where he assisted in the building of a house of worship for each congregation. Later he went to Marion, New York, where he remained a short time, when he went to the State of Iowa, where he preached at Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa and later at Ottumwa. After spending eleven years preaching in St. Joseph, Missouri, (He was there in 1860), he moved to Philadelphia, whence he retired to his former home, Greene, where he now enjoys a well-earned rest.

In 1839 Mr. Darby was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary A. Short, daughter of Hammond Short of Homer. Their family consists of the following children: Charles H and Edwin T. Charles H. married the widow of Bishop Hawks of St. Joseph, Missouri, who was popular bishop in the Episcopal Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Darby was born one child, Ada. She is an award winning children's author. Edwin T. was joined in marriage with Miss Carrie Thomas of Galesburg, Illinois and they are the happy parents of four children, namely: George B; Frances T; Ethel and Marian.

Mr. and Mrs. Darby celebrated the fifty-eighth anniversary of their marriage in 1897. They show in their daily lives the beauty of the teachings of the Gospel. They have, as they deserve, the good will and cordial friendship of the entire community in which they live, and their record through life is one of which their children may well be proud.

From the Annals of Binghampton, NY (Broome County):

BAPTIST CHURCH

This was constituted in May, 1829. The constituent, members were seventeen in number. Their first pastor was Elder Michael Frederick, who accepted a call from the infant church, and labored with acceptance and success for four years. (1829-1833) He was succeeded by the Rev. Jason Corwin, under whose ministry the church enjoyed a revival; and about fifty were brought, through his instrumentality, to unite with the visible body of Christ. This was in the winter of 1833-4. After two years of successful labor, he resigned( 1835). His successor was the Rev. Henry Robertson, who resigned at the expiration of eight months. In the autumn of 1836, the church had an extensive revival under the preaching of the Rev. Jacob Knapp, the evangelist, who spent about a month in Binghamton. During his stay, and immediately subsequent there were added to the church about seventy members. By this accession the church was rendered numerically strong, and independent, so far as foreign aid was concerned. The successor of Mr. Robertson was Elder Davis Dimmick, whose labors during his short pastorate of one year were very profitable to the church. (1837) The next pastor was the Rev. Wm. Storrs, who remained in that relation only one year. (1838) The Rev. James M. Coley succeeded Mr. Storrs in the pastoral relation, and held it for four years. (1838-1842) His ministry was blessed to the edification of the church, and the ingathering of many. He was followed by the Rev. A. P. Mason, who labored with marked success for two years, when he resigned (1845).

The next pastor was the Rev. Chauncey Darby. During his ministry the church suffered some reverses, but withal enjoyed such blessings, that they concluded to have their house, which had become too strait for their increasing numbers, enlarged. This was done by adding eighteen feet to the length, and building wings on either side, at an expense of $1,800. (about 1846-1848)

Elder Darby resigned after serving the church two years, and was succeeded by the Rev. C. A. Fox. The work of enlarging their church edifice, which was begun during the pastorate of Elder Darby, was finished in the time of Elder Fox, and the expense promptly met by the society. Mr. Fox labored to the general satisfaction for two years and six months. His successor was the Rev. S. M. Stimson, whose labors were signally blessed in bringing many into the fold of Christ. He gave up the pastoral care in August, 1859, after seven years of successful service. He was followed by the Rev. W. V. Garner, who entered upon his labors in November, 1859, and continued in office three years. Mr. Garner was succeeded by the Rev. Chas. Keyser, who entered upon his duties in 1863. Mr. Keyser labored with very general acceptance and success, and resigned after holding the office about four years. He was succeeded, after an interval, by the Rev. Lyman Wright, who commenced his labors Jan. 1, 1869.

At that time, and mainly through the efforts of Mr. Wright, the society began to entertain the project for a new house of worship, which was greatly needed; and a subscription for that object was opened July 26th, 1869. The church soon found that their new pastor not only abounded in the labors appropriate to his office, but that he was also an able financier and business man; and ground was broken for the new church edifice April 21, 1870. The transept containing ample Lecture and Sabbath-school rooms, was first occupied and dedicated March 5, 1871. The auditorium was dedicated March 6, 1872.

The church edifice is regarded as the best and most thoroughly built of any in Binghamton. It was erected by "day's works," under the careful and skillful supervision of Mr. Julius W. Fay, and is a fine example of the Romanesque style. It has a seating capacity of 1,400, and the entire cost was $78,000. The church property is valued at $110,000. The present membership, according to the annual report of June 1872, is six hundred and ninety-two.

The pastors have succeeded one another in the following order, and time of service:

Rev. Michael Frederick, 4 years.

" Jason Corwin, 2"

" Henry Robertson, 8 mo's.

" Davis Dimmick, 1 year.

" William Storrs, 1 "

" J. M. Coley, 4 "

" A. P. Mason, 2 "

" C. Darby, 2 "

" C. A. Fox, 2 1/2 "

" S. M. Stimson, 7 "

" W. V. Garner, 3"

" Chas. Keyser, 4"

" Lyman Wright, Present pastor.

CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH: "From Raft to Railroad" , A History of the Town of Greene, Chenango County, New York, 1792-1867 by Mildred English Cochrane, Town Historian: Page 78:

The Central Baptist Church was organized in 1831 by members of the congregation who had separated from the Second Baptist Church in Upper Genegantslet. Their first pastor was Rev. Asahel Holcomb.

For a time they held their meetings in the schoolhouse at Lower Genegantslet, then obtained the use of the Methodist Church in Greene every other Sunday. Finally the M.E. Society became large enough to hold services every week, so the Baptists were obliged to rent the only place available - a vacant store-room in the Goff Block, then owned by William Hatch, one of Greene's early merchants. This was in 1839 during the pastorate of Rev. Chauncey Darby. The store-room was equipped with counters and shelves which the owner would not allow to be removed, so Rev. Darby used the end of an old counter for his pulpit and the congregation sat around the room on boxes and benches. Finally the place became too small to hold them all and he secured an adjoining room so that the people could hear the service from each one.

One day as Elder Darby was walking down South Main Street, (Now Chenango Street) he saw George R. Lyon removing the tools from his blacksmith shop which was where his house later stood (Now the site of the Mobile Gas Station). He asked Mr. Lyon what he planned to do and Mr. Lyon replied that he was going to build a house there. "Would you sell the shop to me?" asked Elder Darby. "Yes!", replied Mr. Lyon. So a price of $50.00 was agreed upon. The Elder then hitched up his Horse and rode around among his people and told them that he had purchased a church. The result was that in a few days the members of the Society brought several yoke of oxen and drew the building on to the rear end of the church lot for which they had contracted, on the corner of Chenango and Mill Streets. (The deed, dated 1847, from William Hatch, states "The land on which the church stands, also the old house formerly used as a Meeting House)

The 24 feet by 36 feet blacksmith shop was repaired and fitted up for a Sanctuary and used until a new church was built.

When the building committee drafted the subscription paper, it was headed by the pastor with $50.00, and when it was due he sold his horse to pay it. HE accepted whatever was offered: "A yoke of two year old steers to be delivered in the spring", boards, hewed timber, stone at the quarry, team work, material, labor, a barrel of pork, etc.

In Artemas Haynes' Account Book records are found of the building of this church in 1842. He and A. Newton went to Oxford to Look at Meeting Houses and churches there, after which he drew the plans (for 75 cents) for it. He "drew timber with Mr. Storm", and "Made a bargain with Mr. Dibble" to build the House. Stone for the basement and foundation came from the Birdsall Quarry and for Haynes own work on the foundation, making window frames, and getting stone, he received $18.00 for two weeks work. Later he spent three days "Going around trying to settle subscription".

A picture of this church shows it to be similar in appearance to the old Episcopal Church (now Catholic). During summer services it was so packed with people that a multitude even crowded the front yard and listened, with church windows up and door open, to Rev. Darby.

The original church lot extended from Chenango Street to Stillman Watson's on the west corner of Monell Street. In 1856 the church conveyed to him a portion of the lot which adjoined his property and as this appears to be that on which the "Blacksmith shop church" stood, he probably acquired that building at the same time.

It is interesting to note that by 1846 there were 85 churches in Chenango County: 27 Baptist, 22 Methodist, 13 Congregational, 8 Presbyterian, 8 Episcopal, 5 Universalist and 2 Quaker.

Pastors after 1831:

Rev. Asahel Holcomb,

Rev. D.W. Litchfield

Rev. John Fuller

Rev. Chauncey Darby (1839-1845)

Rev. D. Cutler

Rev. J.W. Van Horn

Rev. Chauncey Darby (1851-1855)

Rev. J.D. Webster

Rev. H. Garlick

Rev. J.H. Sage

Chauncey Darby seen in Lyons, Wayne County, New York in 1830, see NY census page 113; Cortlandville, Cortland County, New York in 1850, see NY census, 380; Rev. Chauncey Darby (retired), is seen in Greene Village, Chenango, New York in 1902 directory

This announcement in the newspaper: DARBY, Orvill C - Oct. 22, 1850; to Chauncey & Elizabeth Darby

Weddings attributed in Chenango Co to Rev. Chauncey Darby:

TOWSLEY, Lavorian T, 21, of Smithville, was married to KNICKERBACKER, Lidia J, 20, of Smithville, on Sept. 18, 1850 by Elder Darby, Greene, NY

PEARSON - SHAPLEY

In Greene on 1st inst (Jan 1855), by Rev C Darby, Mr. James M Pearson to Miss Louisa M. Shapley, all of Greene

Birth Register: DARBY, Lyman C, Mar. 10, 1849: to James M & Adeline Darby -

NY Baptists 1895:

Darby Chauncy Greene Minister 1895

Darby Otis H Lake Ridge Minister 1895

Description:

Located on the banks of the Mohawk River in central New York, the quiet town of Ilion is a suburb of Herkimer. This database is a membership directory of the First Baptist Church in the town in 1895 and 1923. It contains the names of over 1800 men and women. Each record provides the member's name and residence information. It also provides the year they appeared in the yearbook. For researchers of New York ancestors who were members of the Baptist Church, this can be a useful database.

1830 DARBY CHARLES Chenango County NY 241 New Berlin

Darby, Charles View Image Online

 Images Online #: 479 State: New York 

 County: Chenango Year:  1830 

 Township: New Berlin Page:  241 

enumerated 24 August 1850, Cortlandville, Cortland Co, NY

779 800

Chauncey Darby 34 M Bap clergyman 400 NY

Mary A 34 F NY

Charles H 7 M NY

Edwin F. 5 M NY

Nary E. Abbot 19 F NY

1860 Town of Homer, County of Cortland, State of New York enumerated 26 June 1860

275 278

Chauncey Darby 44 M Lime(?) Manufacturer 4200 1200 NY

Mary A. 44 F NY

Charles H. 17 M NY

Edwin L. 14 M NY

Orville C. 9 M NY

--- 279

Hammill Short 64 M Gentleman MA

Dorcas 67 F RI

Ann Lowery 19 F Domestic Ire

Note: in 1830 and 40 Census there is a Hammon Short in Homer and in 1850 there is a Harmon Short.

1880 census of St. Joseph Missouri:

C. DARBY Household

   Male   

 Other Information: 

   Birth Year <1816>  

   Birthplace NY  

   Age 64  

   Occupation Minister  

   Marital Status M <Married>  

   Head of Household C. DARBY 

 Source Information: 

   Census Place St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri  

   Family History Library Film 1254675 

   Page Number 258D 

New York Baptists:

Darby Chauncy Greene Minister 1895

Darby Otis H Lake Ridge Minister 1895

Possible reference for Chauncey Darby from Ancestry.com:

Brewster gen., des. of Will. Brewster of the "Mayflower". By Emma C. Brewster Jones. New York, 1908. (2v.):1090 WoodstockCt ViR:472

Another person seen living with Chauncey Darby is F E. Darby in 1880.

F. E. DARBY Household

   Male   

 Other Information: 

   Birth Year <1853>  

   Birthplace NY  

   Age 27  

   Occupation Clerk In Store  

   Marital Status S <Single>  

   Head of Household C. DARBY 

 Source Information: 

   Census Place St. Joseph, Buchanan, Missouri  

   Family History Library Film 1254675 

   Page Number 258D 

Household: 1880

Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace 

C. DARBY   Self   M   Male   W   64   NY   Minister   CT   CT  

M. A. DARBY   Wife   M   Female   W   63   NY   Keeping House   CT   RI  

A. L. CURTIS1   Other   M   Male   W   28   PA   Box Manufacture   PA   PA  

M. E. CURTIS2   Other   M   Female   W   28   NY   Keeping House   NY   NY  

E. H. CURTIS3   Other   S   Male   W   11M   MD      PA   NY  

S. JEWETT   Other   S   Male   NA   27   NE   Carriage Driver   ---   ---  

Lu SISKE   Other   S   Female   W   19   BOHMEN   Domestic   BOHMEN   BOHMEN  

F. E. DARBY   Other   S   Male   W   27   NY   Clerk In Store   NY   NY  

Fairfield Weekly Ledger

Jefferson County, Iowa

January 30, 1868

---January 16, 1868, by Rev. R. M. TRACY, Mr. John H. PECK and Miss Swana BARTLES.

Lost. ---On Friday, Jan. 24th, between BONFIELD’s store and the residence of C. DARBY, a pair of gold spectacles and case. Any persons returning them to me will be liberally rewarded. Jan. 30, 1868. C. DARBY.

Fairfield Weekly Ledger

Jefferson County, Iowa

June 18, 1868

Marriages

---In this city on the 7th of June, 1868, by Rev. C. DARBY, Mr. John McWHINNEY and Miss Catharine GIFT, both of this place.

Fairfield Ledger

Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa

February 2, 1871

CHURCH DIRECTORY (Page 2)

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL.--Rev. W. Y. Johnson, Rector. Services at 11 A.M. and 6 ½ P.M. Sunday School 3 P.M.

LUTHERAN -- Rev. A. Axline, Pastor. --Services at 11 A.M. and 6 ½ P.M. Sabbath School at 9 ½ A.M. a. Axline, Supt. Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, 7 ½ P.M.

BAPTIST -- Rev. C. Darby, Pastor. Servies at 11 A.M. and 6 ½ P.M. Sabbath School at 2 ½ P.M. A. C. Potter, Supt.--Prayer Meeting, Wednesday, at 6 ½ P.M.